Hundreds of residents have been left without electricity or hot water at the 44-storey West Tower on Deansgate after power first went off on Wednesday night and won’t be restored until Monday
Residents of one of Manchester city centre’s most prestigious skyscrapers are fleeing their homes tonight – following a massive power outage that bosses say cannot be resolved over the weekend.
Electricity has gone down at the towering West Tower, which soars 44 storeys above Deansgate and houses hundreds of residents in upmarket apartments and penthouses. The properties, known as The Residences, are marketed as “extraordinary apartments” with “exceptional service” and have been open for five years, Manchester Evening News reports.
On Thursday night, however, residents were spotted hauling suitcases out of one of the city’s tallest buildings, desperately seeking hotels and alternative accommodation after being informed that power will remain off for a further four days – until Monday.
Residents have reported that the power first failed on Wednesday night at approximately 9pm, though the building’s management team attempted to reassure them that work was underway to resolve the issue.
Electricity and hot water remained off throughout Thursday, before emails were dispatched to all residents on Thursday evening, informing them the problem cannot be rectified until Monday.
Residents are being given the option of remaining in their homes without electricity, or sourcing alternative accommodation, which they have been told will be reimbursed at a later date. One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It’s chaos, everyone’s pi***d off and it’s just the unknown, it’s the uncertainty of whether the electrics will actually back on on Monday.”
He revealed he was booking a hotel while the problems are sorted out, adding: “I can do without hot water because I can shower at the gym, but having no wifi or TV? No, I had to leave, I need my TV.”
Another resident said: “Power went off last night, the whole building just went off. It was all blacked out, we thought it would be back on this morning, but we’ve waited all day while they said a generator is coming. They’ve now said they can’t do anything until Monday, and the reception is so busy with angry people. I’ve got to decide where to go tonight.”
One woman revealed she was so distressed by the situation that she is now considering leaving the apartments for good. She said: “We still have no update as to when the electricity will be back on. I work from home so electricity is vital and I’ve had to take today as unpaid leave.
“I pay over £1,600 per month in rent and expect the management to have been better equipped and have higher quality energy infrastructure. We were told to use the gym’s showers but only two of the four women’s showers were working. All we have been provided with is bottled water. Management are refusing to compensate for all the spoiled food from fridges and freezers, as well as the purchase of all new food.” She added: “I will certainly be looking for alternative places to live.”
An email from The Residences Management, seen by the M.E.N., was dispatched to residents on Thursday evening providing an update on the situation. In it, they “sincerely apologise for the disruption and inconvenience caused”.
It stated: “The cause of the outage has now been identified as a fault with the busbar within the Deansgate Square site, which is impacting power supply to all properties within West Tower.
“This section of the development is managed by a third party, who are working closely with their contractors to restore power as quickly as possible. The replacement component is bespoke and is currently being manufactured, with delivery expected onsite next week. Following this, insurers will investigate the cause of the outage and carry out the necessary loss adjustment process.”
It went on: “Although we had previously advised that the power may be restored to apartments this evening, due to unforeseen complications, it is anticipated that temporary generator power will not be in effect until Monday 13th April 2026.
“Whilst there is no power to apartments, we can confirm that there is an emergency supply to all lifts and life safety systems (fire alarm system, automatic opening smoke vents, sprinkler system) within the building, which remain fully operational during this period.
“In the meantime, residents have the choice to stay in the building or arrange alternative hotel accommodation from this evening until Monday 13 April 2026, when temporary power is anticipated to be restored.”
The email confirmed that alternative accommodation and meal expenses would be reimbursed “up to £120 per night for couples and singles”, while families were directed to speak with a member of staff for “further guidance”.
The West Tower forms part of the cluster of high-rises at Deansgate Square and currently ranks as Manchester’s 11th tallest building, standing at 44 storeys. The city’s tallest structure is its neighbouring South Tower, which soars to 65 floors.
Upmarket apartments in the West Tower start at £1,400 a month for one-bedroom flats, rising to £1,950 for two-bedroom properties, £2,300 for three-bedroom homes, and up to the lavish duplex penthouses which are listed as “price on application” but are believed to fetch as much as £20,000 a month in rent.
Council leaders say they will now demand urgent answers from the West Tower’s management company regarding the situation.
Pat Karney, city centre spokesperson said: “This is an unbelievable development in one of Manchester’s newest towers. Myself and local Deansgate councillors will seek an urgent meeting with the management company of the block to assess how we can help the residents living in the block.”
